JPH0229818A - Cylinder type touch panel device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the effect of advertisement and to reduce parallax by allowing oblique beams formed by a light emitting means and a light receiving means to from a detecting face of a cylindrical touch panel. CONSTITUTION:The light emitting element 11 and the light receiving element 12 are arranged on the upper and lower parts of a cylindrical body 10 with optical coupling relation, a beam formed by these elements 11, 12 is inclined so that the detecting face is formes as close as possible to the cylindrical face and its envelope face is cylindrically formed. Since the elements 11, 12 are respectively arranged on the upper and lower parts of the cylindrical body 10, housings 13 for storing respective elements 11, 12 are also arranged on the upper and lower parts. Since a continuous detecting face can be obtained without lossing an advertisement face (display face) on the cylindrical body 10 by the housings 13, the effect of advertisement can be improved, and since the beams formed by the elements 11, 12 is inclined from the cylindrical face, parallax can be reduced.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The invention will be explained in the following order.

A. Field of industrial application B. Outline of the invention C. Prior art D. Problem to be solved by the invention E. Means for solving the problem (Fig. 1) F. Effect G. Example G1 Structure of the device (Fig. 1, Fig. 2) 02 Circuit configuration (Fig. 3, Fig. 6 to Fig. 8) G3 Circuit operation (Fig. 4,
(FIG. 5) Low range of G4 balax (FIG. 9) H Effect of invention A Industrial field of application The present invention relates to a cylindrical touch panel device suitable for use in, for example, billboards.

B. Summary of the Invention This invention arranges light-emitting elements and light-receiving elements in a ring shape on a cylindrical body so as to optically correspond to each other, and connects these elements to form an infrared beam in an oblique direction to form a cylindrical shape. By forming a continuous detection surface, the advertising effect can be improved without damaging the advertising surface, and parallax can be reduced.

C. Conventional Technology Instead of a keyboard, it is conceivable to use a touch panel device, which can be operated manually by simply touching the screen with a finger, as a cylindrical advertising tower, as shown in FIG. The cylindrical body (1) used at this time is, for example, a cylindrical body with a diameter of about 1.2 m and a product bossk to be advertised is pasted on the surface, or a CRT (TV set) is arranged concentrically and its display surface constitute a polygonal cylinder. If the surface of such a cylindrical body is composed of a "°touch panel", if you touch the target product with your finger, the product explanation will be performed audibly, and the screen of the video disc (for TV set) will be displayed. is displayed as a video, and the advertising effect is extremely large. In FIG. 10, (2) is a housing formed of an infrared filter, and as shown in FIG. Diode (3
) and a light receiving element such as a phototransistor (4).

By the way, the touch panel used for this purpose is
Since it is used by an unspecified number of people and is not used under constant supervision by staff, high reliability is required.

There are various types of touch panels, but among these, there is an infrared type touch panel (infrared beams are formed between a large number of light emitting diodes and a phototransistor facing them, and two groups of infrared beams are transmitted orthogonally to each other). (i.e., a method in which the beams are arranged in a matrix) and the beam is intercepted to detect the pointed position), there is no substance on the touch surface (i.e., the detection surface) and the required reliability is satisfied.

D Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, the light emitting diodes and phototransistors for forming a beam for detecting position are arranged facing each other at the bottom and top (in the case of a two-cylinder body in the left and right direction, position detection in the circumferential direction However, forming a beam to detect the position in the vertical direction is problematic.

In other words, when the beam is formed laterally, the beam A becomes cylindrical (
It crosses in the tangential direction of the cross-sectional circle), and it is fine near the point of contact, but as you move away from it, the distance between the beam and the cylindrical surface suddenly increases, and as a result, the parallax increases, and the difference between the pointing position and the detected position is `` This will result in a ``misalignment'' and an incorrect instruction will be input.

As a means to solve this problem, as can be easily understood from FIG. 10B, the transverse beam may be formed polygonally with respect to the cylindrical body (1).

However, in this case, the housing (2) houses the beam-forming diode (3) and the phototransistor (4).
) will cover up a portion of the poster, etc., making it impossible to obtain a touch panel with a continuous detection surface, and in cases where a CRT display is used, the beam length must be equal to or less than the horizontal length of the CRT. It cannot be made shorter, and the above-mentioned vararax problem still remains.

This invention was made in view of the above, and provides a cylindrical touch panel device that has a touch panel that has a continuous detection surface without damaging the advertising surface (display surface) on the cylindrical surface and has reduced parallax. This is what we provide.

E. Means for Solving the Problems A cylindrical touch panel device according to the present invention includes a light emitting element (1
1) and the light receiving element (12) in an optically coupled relationship with the cylindrical body (10).
The beams formed by these elements are oriented diagonally, and the detection surface (sense surface) is formed as close to the cylindrical surface as possible, so that its envelope surface is cylindrical.

F The action light emitting element (11) and the light receiving element (12) are cylindrical (10
) are arranged above and below, so the housings (13) that house them are also arranged above and below, so that the housings do not damage the advertising surface (display surface) on the surface of the cylindrical body (10) and are continuous. A detection surface can be obtained and advertising effectiveness can be improved. Furthermore, since the beams formed by the light emitting element (11) and the light receiving element (12) are oriented obliquely to the cylindrical surface, it is possible to reduce the variation.

G. Example Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail based on FIGS. 1 to 9.

G3 Structure of this device FIG. 1 is a block diagram of this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of its main parts. , (11) is a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode, (12) is a light receiving element such as a phototransistor, and (13) is a light emitting diode (11) and a phototransistor (12) provided above and below the cylindrical body (10). It is a housing that stores the. The housing (13) consists of an infrared filter (14) and a light shielding member (15), and includes a light emitting diode (11) and a phototransistor (12).
) is covered with a light shielding member (15) on its back and side surfaces, and an infrared filter (14) that selectively transmits the infrared beam of the light emitting diode (11) is provided on the front surface.

Light emitting diode (11) and photo transistor (1)
2) arranges the cylindrical body (10) in the housing (13) at a corresponding position cut at an equal angle. Here, it is preferable that the light emitting diode (11) and the phototransistor (12) are arranged at the same position in the cylindrical cross section. This is because the intersection points of the infrared beams are arranged in the axial direction of the cylinder (10).

The infrared beam emitted from the light emitting diode (11) is directed to the phototransistor (1) diagonally opposite to the infrared beam.
2), and oblique beams are formed as shown by solid lines (X beam) and broken lines (Y beam) in FIG.

When this oblique beam is blocked by a finger or similar opaque object, its coordinates are detected, and an operation corresponding to the coordinates is performed via a computer device. The formation of this diagonal beam is described in Japanese Patent Application No. 63-53186.
No. 63-146210, etc.

G2 Circuit Configuration Figure 3 shows the circuit configuration of this embodiment, in which the light emitting diode (11) and phototransistor (12) are arranged diagonally below and above the cylindrical body (10) as shown in Figure 2 above. are arranged in an optical coupling relationship.

The structures and characteristics of the light-emitting diode (11) as a light-emitting element and the phototransistor (12) as a light-receiving element are shown in FIGS. 6 to 87, for example. That is, FIG. 6 shows the structure of a light emitting diode (11) and a phototransistor (12), and FIG. 6A is a plan view thereof.
FIG. 6B is a front view thereof, and FIG. 6C is a side view thereof. In the figure, (20) is a case, (16) is a pellet, (17) is an anode electrode terminal or a collector electrode terminal, and (18) is a cathode electrode terminal or an emitter electrode terminal. In this embodiment, a light emitting diode (11) is placed on the front side of the case (20) so that the radiation sensitivity is maximized in the case of a light emitting element, or a light emitting diode (11) as a light emitting element in the case of a light receiving element.
For example, a lens (19) as a condensing device is integrally attached so as to have the maximum sensitivity to the infrared beam from.

By providing the lens (19) on the front side of the case (20), the light emitting diode (11) exhibits directional characteristics as shown in FIG. ) It can be seen that it exhibits the directivity characteristics as shown in FIG. 8 with respect to the infrared beam from the beam, and has the maximum sensitivity. In addition, in FIGS. 7 and 8, the maximum opening angle is limited to a value at which the sensitivity is 172.

Returning to Figure 3, (21) is a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as microcomputer), and (22) is a light emitting diode related to forming the X beam in response to a control signal specifying an address from microcomputer (21). (11) is a selector for switching the fixed terminals (22,) to (2).
25) are switching transistors (23,
) to (235) through the light emitting diode (11,.

).

(11□.), (1135), (114,), (
1153) and its movable terminal (
22, ) is connected to the positive power supply terminal B via a resistor (24). The selector (22) also has a release and fixed terminal (22,). Light emitting diode (11,0>
, (1120), (113,), (11,,),
The anodes of (1153) are commonly connected, and the resistor (2
5) to the positive power terminal B.

(26) also controls the phototransistor (12) associated with forming the X beam in response to a control signal specifying an address from the microcomputer (21) (same as the address data to the selector (22)). It is a selector for switching, and its fixed terminals (26,) to (265) are phototransistors (12,3), (12□,), respectively.
(12,,).

(12,.), (trso), and its movable terminal (26c) is grounded. Further, the selector (26) has an open fixed terminal (26 pins). Phototransistor (12,3), (1222), (
The collectors of 123+), , (1240), and (1250) are connected in common, and are connected to the positive power terminal B via a resistor (27) and to the microcomputer (21) via a buffer circuit (28). Connected to port 1.

(29) is a selector for switching the light emitting diode (11) related to forming the Y beam in accordance with a control signal specifying an address from the microcomputer (21),
The fixed terminals (29,) to (29,) are connected to the light emitting diodes (110,), (1102), and
(1183), (11,,).

(11,,) is connected to the cathode of its movable terminal (2
9c) is connected to the positive power terminal B via a resistor (31). In addition, the selector (29) is connected to a release fixed terminal (29).
, ). Light emitting diode (11゜1), (ll
The anodes of o2) are commonly connected and the current limiting resistor (2
5) and is connected to the positive power supply terminal B via the current switch transistor (25T). And this transis? (25T) is port 3 of microcontroller (21)
The switching transistors (23) and (25)
At the same time, the light emitting diode (11) is driven in an AND manner.

In addition, (32) is a phototransistor (12) related to forming the Y beam in response to a control signal specifying an address from the microcomputer (21) (same as the address data to the selector (29)). It is a selector for switching, and its fixed terminals (32,) to (32,) are phototransistors (12,,), (12□2>,
(12°).

(12°=), (12os) and its movable terminal (32c) is grounded. Further, the selector (32) has an open fixed terminal (32y). The collectors of the phototransistors (12°, ) and (t2°,) are connected in common, and are connected to the positive power supply terminal B via a resistor (27), as well as to a buffer circuit (28).
It is connected to port 1 of the microcomputer (21) via.

Now, the movable terminal (29c) of the selector (29) and the movable terminal (32c) of the selector (32) are opened and fixed terminal (29, ) and open, respectively, by a control signal from the data bus of port 2 of the microcomputer (21). The selector (22) selects a light emitting diode (11,.) while connected to (32,), (1
12°), (11,,).

(11=4) and (1153) are sequentially driven, and correspondingly, the selector (26) selects the phototransistor (12).
+s), (12aa).

(12=1), (124o), and (12s.) are sequentially driven to sequentially form an X beam, and when this X beam is interrupted by a finger, the X coordinate is detected.

In addition, the movable terminal (22c) of the selector (22) and the movable terminal (26c) of the selector (26) are opened and fixed terminals (22Y) and ( The selector (29) selects the light emitting diode (1101) while connected to (26Y), (
1102), (1183).

(11,,), (113) are sequentially driven, and correspondingly, the selector (32) selects the phototransistor (12□
), (12**).

(12+-), (1204), and (12os) are sequentially driven to sequentially form a Y beam, and when this Y beam is interrupted by a finger, the Y coordinate is detected.

In this way, the light emitting diode (11) used to emit infrared beams in two directions at the bottom of the display area and the phototransistor (12) used to receive infrared beams in two directions at the top of the display area are connected to the X beam and Y beam. They are driven in time-division to form the same, and in parallel to operate in common. Therefore, compared to the case where each element is arranged independently corresponding to the beam arrangement direction, the number of elements is reduced and costs can be reduced.

In addition, as is clear from the schematic diagram in Figure 3, all of the phototransistors (12) face towards the bottom, so they are sensitive to external light (sunlight, various types of illumination, etc., which usually come from above). is low, and the direction of the maximum value of the receiving directional characteristic (
Even if the angle 0) does not point in the direction of the corresponding light emitting diode (11), the optical S/N ratio is good and there is no problem.

G5 Circuit Operation Next, the operation of the circuit shown in FIG. 3 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 shows a case where scanning is stopped after one beam is interrupted, and FIG. 5 shows a case where even if one beam is interrupted, subsequent scanning is continued and all beams are scanned.

First, explanation will be given with reference to FIG. Start the program at step (a), and selector (2) until then at step (b).
Clear the contents of the memory of the microcomputer (21) that stored that the X beam was interrupted when 2) and (26) were selected. In step (c), address data is supplied from the microcomputer (21) to the selectors (22) and (26), and the corresponding light emitting diode (11) and photo
The transistor (12) is energized to form an X beam.

In step (d), it is determined whether the X beam is blocked by a finger or the like, and if it is not blocked, in step (e), the light emitting diode (11) and phototransistor (12) forming the X beam are It is determined whether the address data to be switched to the selectors (22) and (26) is the last one, and if it is not the last one, the selectors (22) and (26)
Upload only one address data for 6), return to step (c), repeat the above operation, and if step (e) is the last one, that is, if all of the X beams are not interrupted, step (b) again. Return to and repeat the above operations.

If the X beam is blocked in step (d), step (
The light emitting diode (1) forming the X beam at
1) and the corresponding address data given to the selectors (22) and (26>) that select the photo transistor (12) are stored in the memory of the microcomputer (21) as X coordinate information. The detected address data indicates the location where the beam was first interrupted.

Next, proceed to step (H), and here until then selector (2)
Clear the contents of the memory of the microcomputer (21) that stored that the Y beam was cut off when 9) and <32) were selected. In step (S), address data is supplied from the microcomputer (21) to the selector (29) and selector (32), and the corresponding light emitting diode (11) and photo
The transistor (12) is energized to form a Y beam.

In step (N), it is determined whether the Y beam is blocked by a finger or the like, and if it is not blocked, in step (L), the light emitting diode (11) and phototransistor (12) forming the Y beam are It is determined whether the address data to be switched to the selectors (29) and (32) is the last one, and if it is not the last one, the address data to the selectors (29) and (32)
Amplify only one address data for 2), return to step (S), repeat the above operation, and if step (L) is the last, that is, if all of the Y beams are not interrupted, step (B) again. Return to and repeat the above operations.

If the Y beam is interrupted at step (nu), step (
The light emitting diode (1) forming the Y beam at
The corresponding address data given to the selectors (29) and (32) selecting the photo transistors 1) and 12) are stored in the memory of the microcomputer (21) as Y-coordinate information. The address data detected at this time indicates the position where the beam was first interrupted.

Then, in a step (force), each address data stored in the memory of the microcomputer (21) is read out, and the X coordinate and Y coordinate are
Calculate coordinates.

Further, the coordinates detected by the microcomputer (21) are converted into orthogonal coordinates. That is, for example, the coordinate values detected as described above are converted into prime coordinate values (oblique coordinate values) (MY).

NX), prepare the coordinate values (Hy, VX) of the corresponding objective (orthogonal coordinates) in the ROM built in the microcontroller (21), and convert (MY, NX) → (Hy, VX). If you do this, you will get the desired true coordinate values (Hy, VX)
can be found.

Next, a description will be given in connection with FIG.

The program starts in step (a), and in step (b), the microcomputer (2) remembers that the X beam was cut off when selectors (22) and (26) were selected.
1) Clear the memory contents. In step <c), address data is supplied from the microcomputer (21) to the selectors (22) and (26), and the corresponding light emitting diode (
11) and phototransistor (12) to
form a beam.

In step (D), it is determined whether or not the X beam is blocked by a finger etc., and if it is not blocked, in step (E)
Determine whether the address data to the selectors (22) and (26) for switching the light emitting diode (11) and phototransistor (12) forming the beam is the last one,
If it is not the last step, selector (22) and (
26), and return to step (c) to repeat the above-mentioned operation.

If the X beam is blocked in step (d), the selector (22) selects the light emitting diode (11) and phototransistor (12) forming the X beam in step (g). and the corresponding address data given in (26) to the memory of the microcomputer (21).
Store as coordinate information. Then, proceed to step (E) and repeat the above-mentioned operation.

If it is the last step in step (e), that is, if all the scanning of the X beam is completed regardless of whether or not all of the X beams are interrupted, the process proceeds to step (h), where detection is made in response to the interruption of the beam. Determine whether the address data is one piece, consecutive, or something else, and if not, return to step (b) and repeat the above operation,
If so, proceed to step (su).

Selector (29) and (32) until then in step (su)
Clear the contents of the memory of the microcomputer (21) that remembers that the Y beam was cut off when . At step (NU), from the microcomputer (21) to the selector (29)
and (32) by supplying address data to the corresponding light emitting diode (11) and phototransistor (
12) to form a Y beam.

In step (R), it is determined whether the X beam is blocked by a finger or the like, and if it is not blocked, in step (W), the light emitting diode (11) and phototransistor (12) forming the Y beam are It is determined whether the address data to be switched to the selectors (29) and (32) is the last one, and if it is not the last one, the address data to the selectors (29) and (32)
Upload only one address data for 2), return to step (N), and repeat the above operation.

Also, if the X beam is blocked in the step, the selector (22) selects the light emitting diode (11) and phototransistor (12) that form the Y beam in the step. and the corresponding address data given in (26) to the memory of the microcomputer (21).
Store as coordinate information. Then, proceed to step (wo) and repeat the above operation.

If step (wo) is the last time, that is, if all Y beams have been scanned regardless of whether or not all of the Y beams have been interrupted, the process proceeds to step (y), where the address detected in response to the beam interruption is It is determined whether there is one piece of data, continuous data, or something else. If not, the process returns to step (B) and the above-described operation is repeated; if so, the process proceeds to step (i).

In step (ri), each address data stored in the memory of the microcomputer (21) is read out and the X and Y coordinates are calculated. If the number of address data detected at this time is one, it is determined as is (the value obtained by doubling the data), and if there is a plurality of detected data, the value is determined by adding the first and second data.

Then, as described above, the microcomputer (21) converts the detected coordinates into orthogonal coordinates. That is, for example, the coordinate values detected as described above are expressed as prime coordinate values (oblique coordinate values) (MY, N
X), the coordinate values (Hy, Vx) of the corresponding objective (orthogonal coordinates) are stored in the R built in the microcomputer (21).
If you prepare it in OM and convert (MY, NX) = (Hy, Vx), you will get the desired true coordinate value (Hy, VX).
can be found.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where there are five representative X beams and five Y beams has been explained, but this is just an example, and any value can be taken as necessary. Along with this, the number of light emitting diodes (11) and phototransistors (12) or selectors (22), (26>
The number of fixed terminals in (29> and (32)) can also take any value.

G. Reduction of balarax Next, balarax is reduced by arranging the light emitting diode (11) and phototransistor (12) in an optically coupled relationship in the diagonal direction with respect to the cylinder (10) as described above. This will be explained with reference to FIG. In FIG. 9, only the X beam will be representatively explained among the plurality of inclined beams.

Considering a rectangular image display surface (40) as shown in FIG. 9A projected on a part of the cylindrical body (10), the beam (X beam) between the light emitting diode (11) and the phototransistor (12) becomes an oblique beam as shown by a solid line within the image display surface (40). Of this diagonal beam, A-A
The surface (10) of the cylindrical body (10) is
When compared with 0a), it becomes as shown in FIG. 9B. 9th
In Figure B, L is the length of the surface (10a) in the curvature direction;
β is the projection length (beam span) of the oblique beam AA' in the horizontal direction (one side of the image display surface). As a result, the distance between the oblique beam AA' and the surface (10a) is h or h'. - The distance extending horizontally from the center of the blade surface (10a), that is, the distance from the horizontal beam of the conventional orthogonal beam method to the surface (1°C a) is H. If we take the separation pressure H and compare h', we find that H>h, h', as can be seen from FIG. In other words, it can be seen that the vararax is smaller than that of the conventional device as shown in FIG.

In addition, since the envelope surface formed by the oblique beam is curved along the cylindrically curved rectangular image display surface (40), it substantially forms a parallel surface to the display surface of the cylindrical body 10). This also shows that the vararax becomes smaller.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the cylindrical body was explained as a cylindrical touch panel, but it may be a truncated cone, or it may be a polygon that is substantially cylindrical.

Effects of the invention As described above, according to this invention, the oblique beam formed by the light emitting element and the light receiving element forms the detection surface of the cylindrical touch panel, so that the advertising surface on the cylindrical surface is not damaged in any way. It is possible to obtain a continuous detection surface without being distorted, thereby improving advertising effectiveness. Further, variation can be reduced, and no deviation occurs between the pointing position and the detected position.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an enlarged view of its main parts, FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIG. 3, FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a light emitting element and a light receiving element according to the present invention, FIGS. 7 and 8 are respective directional characteristic diagrams, and FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the degree of improvement in balax in comparison with the conventional device, and is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of the conventional device. (10) is a cylinder, (11) is a light emitting diode, (12)
) is a phototransistor, (21) is a microcomputer, (22), (26), (29), (32)
is a selector, Kahofu (29 is a current limiting resistor) Representatives: Ito, Matsu Peima, Hide Kuma

Claims (1)

[Claims] A cylindrical touch panel device characterized in that an oblique beam formed by a light emitting element and a light receiving element forms a detection surface of a cylindrical touch panel.